Gold Line Advisory Committee

The Arvada Gold Line Advisory Committee, originally named the Light Rail Transit Advisory Committee, was appointed by City Council in June 2001. The Committee is tasked with advising the City Council on important issues concerning the new RTD commuter rail line which is being constructed through central Arvada. The goals of the committee is to present Arvada citizens with a complete, thorough and concise explanation of the Gold Line corridor and RTD's FasTracks program and to provide recommendations to City Council regarding Gold Line issues.

The Gold Line Advisory Committee meets the fourth Thursday of each month, 6:00 PM. in the Council Conference Room located on the third floor of City Hall. Those interested in attending should first confirm meeting occurrence with Kevin Nichols, Senior Planner, 720-898-7464 or knichols@arvada.org

General Information Regarding the Gold Line

Arvada's Gold Line corridor will serve commuters who live and work in Arvada and other Jefferson County cities. It will also serve commuters who live and work in Denver. The plan includes seven new transit stations to be built from Downtown Denver west to the terminus in Wheat Ridge. Completion of the Gold Line is scheduled for mid-2016.

The plan calls for four stations which will built to service the Arvada community at locations in Olde Town, Arvada Ridge, I-70 and Ward Road, and 60th & Sheridan.

The equipment used is the type associated with commuter rail rather than light rail. The electrically powered cars are longer, heavier and seat more riders than the light rail cars in service elsewhere in Denver. These cars will also be used for the East Corridor trains to DIA. Similar cars are used in Philadelphia and Boston as well as other cities.

The Arvada Gold Line is one of eight Metro Denver corridor projects in the RTD FasTracks program. In the 2000 Major Investment Study, the Gold Line was proposed as an 11-mile commuter rail line that would extend along the existing BNSF railroad corridor through Arvada from the Downtown Denver Union Terminal west to the Ward Road park-n-ride.

RTD's FasTracks is a comprehensive Metro Denver transportation program, designed to improve and expand all forms of rapid transit, including local, regional and express buses, circulators, call-n-Ride, and access-a-Ride services. The program is designed to improve and enhance park-n-Rides, access to and from bus terminals, light rail and commuter rail services and pedestrian and bicycle access to transit stations in the metropolitan Denver area.

A special signing ceremony was followed by the groundbreaking for the Gold Line at the site of the future Olde Town Arvada rail station.

"The Obama Administration is proud to partner with the Denver Regional Transportation District on a project that puts this region on a smart path to sustainable growth, while generating thousands of good local jobs," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "The citizens of Denver have made it clear they want transportation choices that reduce roadway congestion, promote cleaner air, and reduce our nation's dependence on costly oil."

The federal grant will help build the East Rail Line to Denver International Airport and the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge, the main components of RTD's innovative Eagle P3 project. The lines will be open to the public in 2016.

"As the population of the metro area continues to grow, transit will be even more important as communities plan for their future," said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. "None of this would be possible without regional collaboration. Working together toward one vision has been key to FasTracks and is why we're all here today."

Through FTA's New Starts program, transit projects that are deemed the most qualified to receive federal funding are rigorously evaluated on a number of criteria prior to award of an FFGA. RTD has worked with FTA for four years leading up to this award.

"This is an important day in the work we do at the federal level and here at the regional level, and now that partnership comes together to bring more transit options to our local communities," said RTD Board Chair Lee Kemp. "This is also an important day because it signifies the confidence that the federal government has in RTD as good stewards of taxpayer dollars."

With the FFGA now executed, RTD issued Notice to Proceed to Denver Transit Partners, the contractor for the Eagle P3 project, to move forward with construction of the Gold Line and a short segment of the Northwest Rail Line to Westminster. Early construction work already has begun on the East Rail Line. These components of FasTracks combine for the largest transit public-private partnership in the nation.

"I applaud RTD for pursuing this innovative public-private partnership to help finance this vital regional link to the nation's fifth busiest airport, given the adverse economic conditions we all face," said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. "It's an example for other public entities on how bringing private sector resources to the table can keep infrastructure projects moving forward."

Hundreds attended the ceremony in Olde Town Arvada, including many local, state and federal officials. The City of Arvada and Historic Olde Town Arvada hosted several activities around RTD's ceremony, including a street fair to tie-in local businesses and the economic benefits that the rail line will generate, much like the gold rush of the 19th century.

"Back in the 1850s, this was the site of the first gold find in Colorado, which brought economic prosperity to this area, and now this federal investment will be a catalyst for new and sustained economic prosperity to the area once again," said Arvada Mayor Bob Frie.

Links and Resources

For more information concerning the work of the Gold Line Advisory Committee, contact Kevin Nichols, Senior Planner, 720-898-7464 or knichols@arvada.org